New Doctor Who Trailer Promises Enemies, Mysteries, And A Twice-Dead Companion

“I’m the Doctor. I’m an alien from outer space, I’m a thousand years old, I’ve got two hearts, and I can’t fly a plane!” That’s the frenetic way the Doctor introduces himself in the new trailer for the second half of Doctor Who’s seventh season. The rest of the trailer is just as rapid-fire as the Time Lord’s delivery, but it promises enemies both old and new, including the Cybermen who will be returning for Neil Gaiman’s second episode later in 2013. But in amongst all the monsters and mayhem, things look to be very much focused on the mystery that is Clara Oswald, the Doctor’s new “not possible” companion. Check it out.

It’s been clear that Clara was going to be the big question mark of season seven ever since Jenna-Louise Coleman’s surprise appearance in the season opener, “Asylum of the Daleks.” That’s in keeping with Moffat’s tenure on the show so far: Matt Smith’s era has so far been very much defined by his first companions, Amy Pond and Rory. Some have criticized that approach, but I’m actually intrigued by the mystery of Clara. If nothing else, it looks to provide a cohesive element that the first batch of standalone episodes lacked. That “movie of the week” approach was intentional, but in my opinion it also produced a weak opening run for the season (and also managed to completely waste Farscape”s Ben Browder, a nigh-unpardonable sin in my opinion). I’ve quite enjoyed the loose season-long arcs of modern Who, and while I can understand Moffat wanting to give the Ponds a rousing exit, the first five episodes felt far too much like filler, delaying the real meat of the season in the form of Clara.

While there are certainly valid criticisms of Moffat’s Who, one thing he’s really good at is creating new antagonists for the Doctor. His most unforgettable creation is the Weeping Angels, but he’s also served up the creepy Silence, the gas-masked children of “The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances,” and the shadowy Vashta Nerada of “Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead.” There are glimpses of several new monsters in the brief trailer, including one that stands out: an imposing gathering of gentlemen who are all teeth and top hat.

Look for more Doctor Who in 2013. In the meantime you can see screengrabs from the trailer below, courtesy of Doctor Who TV.